Here is a handout that I had saved about what to write in Journals.

Object: To teach how to keep a journal properly

Do... Remember that you are writing a journal for several reasons: for your posterity, for a record of your life, as a marker for growth and progress in your life, as a source of inspiration for yourself and others.

Do... Write with a black ball point pen. Pencil and colored pens will fade or smudge over time.

Do... Always date each entry with Month, Day and Year.

Don't... Ever, ever think, "I'll never forget this day, this person, this lesson, or talk"... 40 or 50 years is a long time and you might not be able to remember your phone number let alone who BJ was in the third grade.

Do... Always use a person's full name at least once. The best thing to do is make a list on the back page of your journal with the full name and a brief reminder description plus nick name used.

Do... Write a couple of sentences about a special lesson, talk, or activity to help you remember it.

Do... Take a note of medical history, both personal and family. When did you have your tonsils removed? When your sister had her baby...

Do... Take note of family events, vacations, weddings, deaths, special activities.

Do... Write about good and bad days. It can be a source of inspiration and comfort for your descendants to see that "Grandma" was human too.

Do... Talk about how you feel about what is going on in your life.

Do... Tell about the funny or embarrassing things that happen in your life, running over the skunk and stinking out the car on a trip, having your skirt tucked into your panty hose at a church dance...

Do... Collect and save important papers, poems, etc.

Do... Make a record of music you listen to, movies you watch, books you read, and what you think of them.

Do... Write a letter to yourself on your birthday examining what you did with your past year and making goals and wishes for the coming year.

Do... Take note of the prices of things, how much is a CD, a gallon of milk, a candy bar, a ticket to the movies...

Do...Record typical outings with your family and friends. In 100 years they will think it quaint that you would spend Saturdays walking around the mall with your friends.

Do... Be honest about yourself.

Do... Be merciful to others... don't write gossip or trash about others.

Submitted by: Lisa Crimmins

Who am I the day I made this picture. I'm going to get loads of old mag's and newspapers of the day we make the collages so they have something that represents "THE DAY". I also thought I could get them section off part of their poster and get them to put in details  of who they were and who they will be. I thought this could be a great idea to teach them how to express themselves.

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